Rotary-cylinder explosion-engine.



" G. J. COLEMAN.

ROTARY OYLINDER EXPLOSION ENGINE APPLICATION FILED EBB. 1, 1901.

- Patented Janf3, 1911,

3 BHBETQ-BHEET}:

WITNESS s=- INVENTOR 7 BY} Mam O. J. COLEMAN.

ROTARY CYLINDER EXPLOSION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED P1113 1, 1901.

I Patented Jan.3,1911.

3 SHEETE-BHEET 3.

v WITNESSES: /MA

1 3 ZMM/Q/ ,1 P/Q MJPJM ATTORNEY To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT emce- CLYDE J. COLEMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'IO ROGKAWAY AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION 301 NEW JERSEY.

ROTARY CYLINDER EXPLOSION-ENGINE.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed February 1, 1901; Serial No. 45,584.

Be it known that I, CLYDE J. COLEMAN, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident.

of the boron h of Manhattan, in the county of New Yor city of New York, and State of New York, have invented newand useful Improvements in Rotary-Cylinder Explosion-Engmes, of which thefollowing' 1s a specification, reference being had to the accowanying drawings, forming part thereof.

y invention relates to fluid motors, and is particularl adapted for use in connection with interna com tors, and consists in the arrangement of a plurality of rotating 0 linders about a common axis and operate by internal combustion at the same point in their rotation and at equal intervals.

My invention further consists in the parallel arrangement of such'cylinders.

My invention further includes two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arranged with their axis of rotation intersecting at an angle, one of the'parts carrying a cylinder or a plurality of cylinders and the cylinder or each cylinder being provided with a piston, and the otherrotating part being connected with the piston or with each piston. J

My invention further includes means for circulating currents of "a cooling medium,

as air, for keeping down the temperature of the cylinders.

My invention further includes suitable intake and exhaust valves for admitting and exhaustin motive fluid to and from the cylinders an means for mechanically operating the latter at predetermined points. and during predetermined intervals, and includes sultable means for exploding the motive fluid in the cylinders at a predetermined point in the rotation of the shafts'a'nd at predetermined intervals; and my invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple form of engine of the internal combustion or explosive type in which power is developed uniformly.

In the ordinar type of explosive engine which is the sing e cylinder four cycle type, one explosion occurs, at the most at every other complete revolut on of the ma n shaft, and hence impulse is given to the p ston, at

ustion or explosive mo-- 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.

most, once in every four movements of the piston in either direction. If a plurality of cylinders is provided in this type ofengine the attendant mechanism and structure are necessarily complicated and cumbersome and the result is a heavy, complicated an expenslve engine.

In my present invention I have provided a multi-cylinder engine of extreme simplicity and lightness,.while obtaining therefrom a high efliciency. Other advantages will appear in the more detailed description hereinafter.

I will now proceed to describe a fluid motor embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings herewith, which form a part of this specification; Figure 1 is a 1ongitudinal sectional elevation of a fluid motor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same, the plane of section being taken on the line.

3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same, the plane of section being taken on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I have rovided two shafts, 1 and 2, of whichthe s aft 1 is the main or drive shaft and is journaled in stationary bearings 3, and is rovided with a drive pulley 4 through whic may be transmitted. The drive shaft 1 further carries a plurality of cylinders, in this instance 5, secured to a suitable rotary plate 5 rigidly mounted upon the shaft. A spider 6 further operates to connect the cylinders and the rotary plate rigidly together. The cylinders 7, 7, are arranged upon the rotary plate at equal distances rom each other and at equal distances from the axis of rotation of the shaft, and each cylinder is provided with a piston 8 mounted to reciprocate therein. The shaft 2 is also mounted in stationary bearings 9, and carries, rigidly mounted thereon, a spider 10, having one arm for each cylinder and piston carried by the shaft'l. Connecting rods or links 11 are provided, each of spherical bearin s at one end to the corresponding arm -0 the spider 10 and at the other end to the corresponding piston.

The shafts 1 and 2 are connected to rotate together by means of a universal joint 12. Bevel gearing or other suitable connecting means might of course be employed in lien power which is connected by i it sired.

thereof as a mechanica lequivalent if so de- Upon the rotation of the shafts the pistons will reciprocate in their respective cylinders, and during one-complete revolution of the twoshafts each of the pistons will make a complete stroke in both directions, re-

I turning to its first position. The pistons tially that opposite which a cylinder arrives will start from difi'erentpositions in their strokes in'the various cylinders but will always maintain the same relative ositions toward each other. If successive impulses be. given to successive pistons at each revolution of the shafts, and ,such impulses be given always at the same point in the rotation of the shafts, which point is substanwhen its piston is at the commencement of its stroke in a forward or outward direction, the result will be a very uniform development of ower and equal distribution of forces. I the fluid motor be operated, however, as an'internal combustion or explosive motor, the impulses given to the pistons would referably be at every other revolution rat er than at every revolution, in order to obtain the desired com ression such as is obtained in the ordinary orm of four cycle nin internal combustion or explosive motor in common use. But if impulse be given in all of the cylinders at eve other revolution, and to none of them at t e alternate revolution, then the equal distribution of the power is destroyed. For this reason I provide an uneven number of cylinders, such as five, and explode a charge in alternate successive cylinders. Thus in two revolutions the first cylinder willreceive the first explosion, the t ird cylinder the second explosion, the fifth cylinder the third explosion, the second cylinder (during the second revolutionl) the fourth explosion and the fourth cy inder (also during the second revolution) the fifth explosion. The next successive alternate cy inder to receive an explosion will be the onewhich received the first explosion which has again arrived at the point at which it will be operated upon, which is at the beginof the second revolution therea ter.

In t 's manner five impulses are given to the istons in two revolutions, all at the same xed point, and such impulses are equally distributed over the two revolutions,'and are applied once each in each cylinder during suc time. Each cylinder will receive'an im ulse for its piston for one half of a revolut1on at each alternate revolution of the compress the same as' is common in the four cycle type of internal-combustion'or explos1ve motor. I 0

.The motive flu1d, as here shown, is mtroduced through a hollow portion of the drive shaft 1 and thence into a chamber 13,

which chamber connects with all of the cylinders 7 throu h intake valves 14. One such valve is provi ed for each of the cylinders. The form of valve which I have shown and which is a preferable form, is a piston valveprovided with packing rin s and sprin actuated in one direction. en operate in the other direction b the pressure of the incomingmotive fluid, the spring tension is overcome and the motive fluid passes through grooves or ports arranged in the sides of t e cylindrical valve casmg.

Exhaust valves 15 are rovided, one for each cylinder and the pre erred form of exhaust .valve is a hollow piston valve provided with packing rings 'as shown, said valvespring actuated in one direction and operated by a cam in the other. When against'the, spring pressure, the cylinder, is

haust chamber 16. The annular exhaust chamberis arranged 'within a mufiler having stationary and rotary "members. The rotary member 17 issecured to, and carried by, the drive shaft 1, while the stationary member 18 is secured to the frame and held relatively stationary thereto.

The cam disk 19 which carries the cam surfaces arranged to operate the exhaust valves 15 atthe desired intervals, is suitably journaled upon the standard which carries the stationary bearing 3, and is provided with gear teeth 20 which form an internal gear as a part of the disk. A gearwheel 21 1s rigidly mounted upon the main shaft 1 and has a relative teeth 20 as of 1 to2. Two idlers 22 are freelyemounted upon stationary studs upon the aring standard I 3, and intermesh with each other and also the one with the gear wheel 21 and the other with *the ear teeth 20. By this gearin motion wiflv be transmitted from the sha 1 to the cam disk 19, and the cam disk 19 will, by reason of the ratio of the earing, b'e caused-to make one revolution in t e same direction upon every two revolutions of the main shaft.

The cam disk has a number of cam surfaces or rojections 23, one of such cam projections eing arranged for each valve; and the cam ro ections and the valves are so positione relatively to each other, that each valve is operated only by its own cam rojection. The cam pro'ections are furt ermore arranged at suc points around the disk as to successively operate the valves and is connected with an electric generator in a manner well known. The circult closing device is so positioned that a spark will,

proportion to the gear opened through the valve to an annular exings.

' by one be formed to explode a compressed charge in the cylinders at the most effective point in the stroke of the piston.

I have shown the cylinder 7 as provided .with radiating ribs or projections in order to keep down the temperature'of the cylinder, and I have shown'o enings in the rotary plate 5, and passages t rough the chamber ther in order to compensate for end thrust upon the shafts, I have shown the bearings provided therefor in the form of ball bear- I have also shown a number of oil channels 26 which form a convenient means for distributing oil to the various places requiring lubrication. 7

It is obvious that various modifications and changes may be made in the construction shown and above particularly described within the spirit and scope of my invention. I

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v '1. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arran ed at an oblique angle to each other and with intersecting axes, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotating parts, a piston mounted in each cylinder, a connection between each of the pistons andthe other rotating part, intake and exhaust valves for the cyl- 1nder and a cam disk having a plurality of cam projections for thevalves of the respective cylinders and arran ed to rotate so that such cam projections wi I operate the valves "at fixed points in the rotation of their respective cylinders,

2. The combination, in an internal com-' bustion motor of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arranged to rotate about fixed axes at an obli ue angle to each other and a plurality of cy inders carried by one of said rotating parts, a piston mounted in 'each cylinder, a connection be tween each of the pistons and the other rotating part, intake and exhaust 'valves for the cylinders, and a revoluble cam disk geared to rotate with the cylinders at the ratio of one to two, said cam disk. having a plurality of cam projections, one for each of the exhaust valves, substantially as set forth,-

3. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, of two rotating'parts connected to rotate together and arranged at an oblique angle to each other and with intersecting axes, a plurality of cylinders carrie' of said rotating parts, a piston mounted ineach cylinder, a connection between each of the pistons and the other rotating part, intake and exhaust valves for the cylinders, a cam disk having a lurality of cam projections, one for each of the exhaust valves, said cam disk loosely mounted upon a bearing and provided with gear teeth, a gear wheel secured to rotate with the cylinders and connected to the gear teeth of the cam disk so that the cam disk is caused to revolve once to every two revolutions of the cylinders, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in an internal combustion motor, of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arran'gedat an oblique angle to each otherand with intersecting axes, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotating parts, a piston mounted in each cylinder, a connection between ,each of the pistons and the other rotating part, intake and exhaust valves for each of the cylinders and means including a part rotatable independently of the other rotating parts for successively opening the exhaust valves of alternate successive cylinders, substantially as set forth.

.5. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arranged at an angle to each other and with intersecting axes, an uneven number of cylinders carried by one of said rotating parts, a piston mounted in each c linder, a connection between each of the plstons and the other rotat ing part, intake and exhaust valves for each of the cylinders and means including a part rotatable independently of the other rotating parts for successively'o ening, and holding open for half a revo ution, the exhaust stantially as set forth.

. valves of alternate successive cylinders, sub- 6. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arranged to rotate about fixed axes at an oblique angle to each other, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said rotating parts, a piston mounted in each cylinder, a connection between each of the'pistons and the other rotating art, and means including a part rotatable independently of the other rotating parts whereby a charge of motive fluid may be exploded in each cylinder at a given point at every other revolution of the rotating parts, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in an internal combustion motor of two rotating parts connected to rotate together and arran ed to rotate about fixed axes and at an ang e to each other, a plurality of cylinders carried by one of the said rotating parts and having their respect-ive'axes arranged parallel to the axis' of such rotating part, a piston mounted in each cylinder, a connection between each of the pistons and the other rotating part, intake and exhaust valves for each of the c'ylinders and means including a part rotatable independently of the other rotating parts .n for successively opening the exhaust valves Y ders, and a cam disk fitted to rotate with such ofthe alternatesuocesslve cylinders, oglinders' and having projections arranged 8. The combination in an'internal combust ereonand adapted to actuate the exhaust tion motor of two rotating parts connected i es of the respective c lmderg. 5 torotate together about'fixed axes,aplurality slgned at New York, Y., 131118 31st day 15 of cylinders carried by one of the said rotatof January, 1901.

-ingparts, intake and exhaust valves, acom- CLYDE J. COLEMAN. mon motive fluid chamber for allthe c lin- Witnesses: v a ders, a common exhaust chamber, such 0 am- HENRY D. Wmnmne,

10 here being arranged to rotate withthe eylin- H. Grans. 

